Derasha 169 on Vayikra 13:24

TT #169 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 4 · Passuk 24

The Complete Passuk

א֣וֹ בָשָׂ֔ר כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֥ה בְעֹר֖וֹ מִכְוַת־אֵ֑שׁ וְֽהָיְתָ֞ה מִֽחְיַ֣ת הַמִּכְוָ֗ה בַּהֶ֛רֶת לְבָנָ֥ה אֲדַמְדֶּ֖מֶת א֥וֹ לְבָנָֽה׃

English: If the flesh has a burn from fire in its skin, and the raw area of the burn becomes a bright reddish-white spot or white,

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:24

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the rule that a boil and a burn do not combine for the qualifying measure.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
אוֹ בָשָׂר וְגוֹ׳. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין שְׁחִין וּמִכְוָה מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה.

English: A boil and a burn do not combine with one another.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

A boil and a burn are separate categories; their areas cannot be added together to meet the required measure.